JP6284149B2 - Egg inspection apparatus and egg inspection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an egg inspection apparatus and an egg inspection method.

  Conventionally, as a method for inspecting an egg in a non-destructive manner, a method using autofluorescence of an egg has been disclosed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In Patent Document 1, after irradiating an egg with visible light or ultraviolet light having a short wavelength (near 400 nm), autofluorescence caused by a porphyrin dye contained in the egg is measured, and based on the color and intensity of the autofluorescence. A technique for measuring the freshness of eggs is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus for automatically detecting dirt on the eggshell surface. Patent Document 2 discloses that a chicken egg group is irradiated with light having a wavelength of 300 nm to 500 nm as illumination light to excite π electrons in eggshell pigment (protoporphyrin). The contrast between the eggshell surface and the dirt attached to the eggshell surface can be enhanced by measuring visible light consisting of fluorescence having a wavelength of 600 nm to 700 nm emitted in the process of returning the excited π electrons to the ground level. Therefore, it is described that the detection sensitivity of dirty eggs can be increased.

  By the way, collagen is attracting attention as a preferred food material for the human body, and food materials containing collagen are sold. When such foods are sold as beauty and health foods, there is an added value due to the inclusion of collagen, which may be more expensive than general foods. In addition, since such foods must be purchased separately from the foods used for normal meals, it is costly and troublesome to take such foods every day.

  On the other hand, eggs are very inexpensive and are used as everyday foods in general households, so if eggs can contain collagen, it will be possible to ingest collagen cheaply and easily. Eggs are almost free of collagen. For this reason, various studies have been conducted in order to contain collagen in eggs.

JP-A-4-326060 JP 2005-127720 A

In the research for containing collagen in the egg as described above, it is important to measure whether or not the egg contains collagen.
It is possible to measure the presence or absence of collagen by breaking the egg and removing the yolk and white, but the examined egg must be discarded, and it is very time consuming and expensive to examine many eggs. Efficiency.
Although it is preferable if the non-destructive inspection can be performed as in the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2, as described above, the egg contains almost no collagen. For this reason, there has never been an idea of measuring collagen contained in an egg, and of course, there is no device or method for measuring collagen contained in an egg nondestructively at present.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an egg inspection apparatus and an egg inspection method capable of determining whether or not an egg contains collagen in a non-destructive manner.

(apparatus)
An egg inspection apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for detecting collagen contained in an egg, and shoots a light source that irradiates the egg with light containing blue light and an egg irradiated with light from the light source. And a photographing means.
The egg inspection apparatus according to a second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the light emitted from the light source is light having a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm.
The egg inspection apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect of the invention, comprising: holding means for holding the egg; and the holding means and a cover member that covers the egg held by the holding means, The holding unit and / or the cover member includes a light shielding member that shields light between the light source and the photographing unit.
(Method)
The egg inspection method of the fourth invention is a method for detecting collagen contained in an egg, wherein the egg is irradiated with light containing blue light and the autofluorescence of the egg irradiated with the light is photographed. Features.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the egg inspection method according to the fourth aspect, wherein the light has a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm.

(apparatus)
According to the first invention, since the light from the light source contains blue light, if the egg contains collagen, the collagen that has received the light from the light source emits autofluorescence. For this reason, if autofluorescence is imaged by the imaging means, it is possible to detect whether or not the egg contains collagen.
According to the second invention, when light having a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm is irradiated, autofluorescence is easily generated in collagen. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably detect whether or not the egg contains collagen.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the autofluorescence can be measured by eliminating the influence of the light source and external light, so that it is possible to more reliably detect whether or not the egg contains collagen.
(Method)
According to the fourth invention, since the light irradiated to the egg contains blue light, if the egg contains collagen, the collagen that receives light from the light source emits autofluorescence. For this reason, if autofluorescence is imaged, it can be detected whether or not the egg contains collagen.
According to the fifth aspect, when light having a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm is irradiated, autofluorescence is easily generated in collagen. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably detect whether or not the egg contains collagen.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the inspection apparatus of the egg of this embodiment, (A) is a schematic explanatory drawing when the imaging | photography means C and the light source LS are arrange | positioned on both sides of the egg E, (B) is the egg E side. It is a schematic explanatory drawing at the time of arrange | positioning the imaging | photography means C. (A) is a photograph showing the experimental result of Example 1, and (B) is a photograph showing the experimental result of Comparative Example 1. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the test | inspection apparatus of other embodiment. In the inspection apparatus of other embodiment, it is a schematic explanatory drawing of the state which removed the cover. It is the result which showed the experimental result of Example 2, (A) is a photograph which has not performed image processing, and (B) is a photograph which performed image processing. It is the result which showed the experimental result of the comparative example 2, (A) is a photograph which has not performed image processing, (B) is a photograph which performed image processing. It is the result which showed the experimental result of the comparative example 3, (A) is a photograph which has not performed image processing, (B) is a photograph which performed image processing.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The egg inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus for inspecting whether or not the egg E contains collagen, and is characterized in that the presence or absence of collagen can be inspected nondestructively. Yes.

  To explain the outline, when the egg E is irradiated with light (excitation light) containing light of a blue wavelength, if the egg E contains collagen, autofluorescence occurs in the egg E. Therefore, if the egg E is imaged by irradiating the egg E with excitation light, it can be detected whether the egg E contains collagen by the presence or absence of autofluorescence.

(Egg inspection device of this embodiment)
Next, the egg inspection apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

(Case B)
As shown in FIG. 1, the egg inspection apparatus of this embodiment includes a hollow case B. The case B is formed so that light from the outside does not enter the internal space. That is, the case B is formed so that the inside becomes a dark room.
Note that this dark room does not necessarily mean a complete dark room, and includes a case where the dark room state is such that external light does not affect the autofluorescence of the egg E.
The case B has a door for placing or removing the egg E in a through hole H described later.
The case B corresponds to a cover member referred to in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow case B is provided with a partition plate DP that divides the interior into an upper space and a lower space. The partition plate DP is formed of a material that does not transmit light. That is, the partition plate DP functions as a light shielding plate that shields the upper space and the lower space.

  The partition plate DP is provided with a through hole H that communicates between the upper space and the lower space. This through-hole H also functions as a holding part that holds the egg E to be inspected. For example, the through-hole H is a hole having a diameter of about 30 to 50 mm, and is formed in a shape and size that can hold the egg E in a stable state.

The shape of the through hole H is not limited to a circle, and may be an ellipse or a rectangle, and is not particularly limited. However, if the shape is circular, the egg E can be stably held in a standing state (see FIG. 1), and light from the light source LS, which will be described later, can be prevented from leaking through the through hole H. Moreover, if it is oval, it can suppress that the light from the light source LS mentioned later leaks through the through-hole H, hold | maintaining the egg E stably in the state which laid down.
The partition plate DP corresponds to a light shielding member referred to in the claims.

(Light source LS)
As shown in FIG. 1, a light source LS is disposed in the lower space of the case B. The light source LS can emit light including blue light.

  The light source LS is not particularly limited as long as it can emit light including blue light. For example, as the light source LS, a general light source (for example, a fluorescent lamp) that can emit visible light can be used.

  In particular, as the light source LS, a light source having a peak wavelength in the blue wavelength region (about 450 to 495 nm), such as a blue light emitting diode or a blue laser, particularly a peak wavelength in the vicinity of 488 nm is preferable. If such a light source LS is used, it is easy to cause autofluorescence in collagen when irradiated with light having a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm. Therefore, if a blue light emitting diode, a blue laser, or the like is used as the light source LS, it is possible to more reliably detect whether or not the egg contains collagen.

In the lower space of the case B, the position where the light source LS is disposed is not particularly limited, and is provided at a position where light can be irradiated to the through hole H (in other words, the egg E disposed in the through hole H). Just do it.
In particular, it is preferable that the optical axis CL of the light source LS is disposed so as to pass through substantially the center of the through hole H. In this case, since the light can be irradiated to the egg E most efficiently, the autofluorescence emitted from the egg E can be strengthened, so that the accuracy of detecting collagen can be improved.

Further, the distance from the light source LS to the through hole H (in other words, the distance from the light source LS to the egg E) is not particularly limited. However, if the light source LS is too far from the through-hole H, the autofluorescence emitted by the egg E becomes weak and it is difficult to determine the presence or absence of collagen. Therefore, the light source LS can irradiate the egg E with light to such an extent that autofluorescence emitted by the egg E can be enhanced to some extent, that is, light to such an extent that autofluorescence that can determine whether or not collagen is present is emitted from the egg E. It is desirable to arrange in.
The time for the light source LS to irradiate the egg E with light is not particularly limited.

(Photographing means C)
As shown in FIG. 1, photographing means C is arranged in the upper space of case B. The photographing means C photographs autofluorescence emitted from the egg E. The photographing means C is not particularly limited as long as it can photograph autofluorescence. For example, a CCD camera or a CMOS camera can be used.

  In FIG. 1, the photographing means C is provided with the filter F, but the filter F is not necessarily provided. When using the filter F, the wavelength of the autofluorescence of the collagen contained in the egg E is 480 to 550 nm. Therefore, by using the filter F that selectively transmits light in such a range of wavelengths, It is possible to reliably capture the autofluorescence of collagen while suppressing the influence of other light.

In addition, in the upper space of case B, the position which arrange | positions the imaging | photography means C is not specifically limited, What is necessary is just the position which can measure the autofluorescence of the egg E. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), a through hole H (that is, an egg E) is located between the imaging means C and the light source LS, and the optical axis CL of the light source LS and the optical axis of the imaging means C coincide. You may arrange as follows. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the optical axis CL of the light source LS and the optical axis of the photographing means C may be arranged to be orthogonal (that is, the egg E is photographed from the side).
Further, the time for the photographing means C to photograph the egg E (that is, the exposure time) is not particularly limited.

(Operational effect of the egg inspection apparatus of the present embodiment)
Since it is the above structure, the inside of case B is made into the state of a dark room in the state which has arrange | positioned the egg E in the through-hole H, and light is irradiated to the egg E from the light source LS. Then, since the autofluorescence is emitted from the egg E if the egg E contains collagen, if the egg E is photographed by the photographing means C, the egg E contains collagen based on the photographed image. It can be detected whether or not.

  Moreover, if the egg E is irradiated with light, an analysis image (for example, the image in FIG. 2A) can be obtained instantaneously, and the presence or absence of collagen can be determined. Therefore, even if the egg inspection apparatus work of the present embodiment is incorporated into an existing system to be inspected, the work efficiency does not decrease. Further, since it is only necessary to provide the light source LS and the photographing means C to which light is applied, the improvement of the system can be reduced when it is provided in an existing system.

(Inspection apparatus of other embodiment)
The inspection apparatus is not limited to the above configuration, and may be configured as follows.
Note that in the following, detailed descriptions of those having functions equivalent to those of the above-described apparatus are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inspection apparatus includes a holding unit H on a plate-like base DP. This holding means H is a hollow cylindrical member, and has an opening in which the egg E is arranged at the upper end.

A light source LS similar to the above example is arranged in the holding unit H, and is arranged so as to irradiate light toward the opening of the holding unit H. That is, when light is emitted from the light source LS, the light is irradiated onto the egg E held by the holding means H.

The inspection apparatus includes a cover that covers the holding means H. The cover member includes a side wall disposed so as to surround the side of the holding unit H, and includes a lid that is detachably provided on an upper end of the side wall. And when this lid is attached to the upper end of the side wall, the inside of the cover member is formed as a dark room.

A camera C is attached to the lid of the cover member. Specifically, when the lid is attached to the upper end of the side wall, the camera C is attached so as to be positioned above the egg E held by the holding means H.

As shown in FIG. 3, the camera C is electrically connected to the control device CB. The control device CB has a function of controlling the operation of the camera C and processing the captured image.
The control device CB includes a display D that displays a captured image, an image processed image, and the like. For this reason, the photographed result can be easily confirmed on the display D.

  If it is set as the above structures, if the cover of a cover member is removed, the egg E can be hold | maintained at the holding means H, or can be removed. Then, when the cover of the cover member is attached and the egg E is irradiated with light from the light source LS with the egg E placed on the holding means H, the autofluorescence of the egg E can be measured by the camera C.

The opening of the holding means H, that is, the opening for holding the egg E may be formed in any way. For example, a plate on the lid may be provided at the upper end of the holding unit H, and a through hole may be formed in the plate to form the opening of the holding unit H. In this case, since the autofluorescence can be measured by removing the influence of the light source LS and external light by the cover member and the plate, it is possible to more reliably detect whether or not the egg contains collagen. In this case, the lid-like plate corresponds to the light shielding member referred to in the claims.

When the inner diameter of the holding means H is smaller than the minor axis of the egg, the upper end opening of the holding means H may be used as the opening where the egg E is arranged as it is. In this case, the side wall of the holding means H corresponds to the light shielding member referred to in the claims.

  In the following, it was confirmed that the egg inspection method of this embodiment can determine whether or not the egg contains collagen.

Example 1
In the experiment, a light source was placed in the cardboard box, a through hole was formed on the top surface of the cardboard box, an egg was placed in the through hole, and autofluorescence was measured from above the egg by photographing means. . That is, in FIG. 1A, measurement was performed using a case without an upper space. During the measurement, the experiment was performed with the room darkened and the room being almost close to a dark room.

The light sources and photographing means used for the measurement are as follows. In this experiment, no filter is used.
Light source: REVOX bullet-type LED (center wavelength 490 nm)
Photography means: Digital camera (CANON IXYI)

  Whether or not the measured egg contains collagen was determined after the measurement by breaking the egg and using a collagen test kit (Chondrex).

The experimental results are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 (A), in the egg determined to contain collagen by the collagen test kit (Example 1), the egg determined not to contain collagen by the collagen test kit (FIG. 2). Compared with (B) reference and comparative example 1), it can confirm that the shape of the egg is clearly image | photographed by the influence of autofluorescence.

(Example 2)
In the experiment, a feed that can increase the amount of collagen in eggs when given to chickens (trade name: Neckerich (Miyazaki Midori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)) is added to the mixed feed and given to chickens (Example 2). It was confirmed whether or not the difference in the amount of collagen in the eggs could be measured with the apparatus of the present invention when the feed containing no sorghum was fed to the chicken (Comparative Example 2). In addition, as a comparative example 3, the case where the mixed feed which mix | blended the wood vinegar liquid which does not cause the increase in the amount of collagen was given to the chicken was also confirmed.

The experimental apparatus used Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 except that an image processing color CCD camera (manufactured by Keyence: model number XG-200C) and an image processing apparatus (manufactured by Keyence: model number XG-8500) were used as photographing means. The same measurement was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1 and Comparative Example 2.
In addition, in the image after image processing, the area amount (number of pixels) of autofluorescence was also measured.

Experimental results are shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, in Example 2, it can be confirmed that the shape of the egg is clearly photographed under the influence of autofluorescence. The amount of area in this case was almost the same as the number of pixels corresponding to the size of the egg in the image. In other words, autofluorescence due to collagen was generated in the whole egg, and it was confirmed that the egg was rich in collagen.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, almost no autofluorescence was observed and the area amount was zero.

  From the above results, it was confirmed that by using the method of the present invention, it is possible to inspect whether or not an egg contains collagen in a non-destructive manner.

  The egg inspection apparatus of the present invention is suitable as an apparatus for nondestructively determining whether or not an egg contains collagen.

E Egg B Case C Camera F Filter H Holding means LS Light source

Claims (5)

An apparatus for detecting collagen contained in an egg,
A light source that irradiates the egg with light containing blue light;
An egg inspection apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that images an egg irradiated with light from the light source. The light emitted from the light source is
2. The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light has a peak in the vicinity of 488 nm. Holding means for holding the eggs;
The holding means and a cover member that covers the egg held by the holding means,
The holding means and / or the cover member are
The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light shielding member that shields light between the light source and the imaging unit. A method for detecting collagen contained in an egg,
An egg inspection method comprising irradiating an egg with light containing blue light and photographing autofluorescence of the egg irradiated with the light. The egg inspection method according to claim 4, wherein the light has a peak near 488 nm.